WHARTON PRIVATE EQUITY & VENTURE CAPITAL CLUB - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Panel Manager, Middle Market
Aamir Amdani is a first year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Prior to Wharton, Aamir was an Associate for two years at H.I.G. Capital, a private equity firm with over $10.0 billion AUM focusing on credit, distressed debt and special situation opportunities. While at H.I.G., Aamir focused on evaluating and executing distressed middle market investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to joining H.I.G., Aamir worked as an investment banking analyst for over two years in the Healthcare group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Aamir graduated from New York University's Stern Undergraduate School of Business in 2007 with a B.S. in Finance and Accounting. He is an avid fan of Chicago sports teams and enjoys playing basketball and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair ( Keynotes, Panels ) Aditya
- Emerging Markets - Coming of Age
Aditya Joshi is a 2nd year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Aditya worked at The Blackstone Group's private equity office in India for two years, where he was part of the team that committed over $750 million across six deals. Prior to Blackstone, Aditya worked in Morgan Stanley's investment banking team in India for three years, where he co-led relationship management and deal execution. After graduation, Aditya will be working for Apax Partners in their private equity office in India. Aditya's interests include trekking, traveling, cricket, golf and poker.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Secondaries / Aditya
Sharma is a first year MBA student at Wharton, majoring in Management and Finance. Prior to Wharton, Aditya spent four years in private equity at TA Associates, and two years in investment banking at Lehman Brothers (M&A; - TMT) in London.
At TA Associates, Aditya initially started in their London office. In February of 2009, he moved to India as one of three founding members of TA's India office. He has helped TA close a total of five investments across sectors and geographies. Over the last two years, Aditya has been responsible for end-to-end deal execution, and for training and mentoring associates and analysts.
Aditya holds a Bachelor of Science degree, with first class honours, from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He enjoys playing football, listening to music and travelling.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Managing Director / Greycroft Partners
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Logistics and Finance
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations
Alina Costica is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Alina spent two years as an associate at Kohlberg & Company, a New York based private equity firm focused on enhancing the operational performance of middle-market investments. Previously, Alina spent two years as an investment banking analyst at Merrill Lynch where she specialized in Mergers & Acquisitions. Alina graduated from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University, where she received a B.S. degree with concentrations in Finance and Management.
Job Titles:
- Media Sponsorship Director
Aman Rangrass is a first year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Management. Prior to Wharton, Aman was an Associate Director at UBS in Singapore. He spent four years in investment banking, focusing on Corporate Finance and M&A; opportunities across South-East Asia. He was closely involved and executed a full spectrum of transactions including ECM, DCM and M&A; across a broad range of industries including Consumer Retail, Industrials, Technology and Financial Institutions. As an Associate Director, he also helped advise a number of private equity clients on buy-side and sell-side transactions as part of UBS's M&A; practice. Aman graduated with a B.Sc. in Economics and Finance from the Singapore Management University, Singapore. In his free time, he is an avid golfer and runner, and enjoys traveling, music, scuba-diving and photography.
Amy is a first year dual-degree MBA/MA candidate at the Wharton School and the Lauder Institute. Prior to Wharton, Amy was an associate at C.M. Capital, a family-office that invests in a wide range of asset classes. There, Amy focused on growth-stage investments in China as well as fund-of-fund investments in Asia, Europe and the US. Before joining C.M. Capital, Amy was a consultant at Accenture. Her interests include fashion, yoga and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Distressed Investing Panel Manager
- LBOs - Strategies in Times of Turmoil
Andrew Chang is a 2nd year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Andrew worked at Goldman Sachs' investment banking and principal strategies divisions for three years in Hong Kong and New York. After graduation, Andrew will be working for Wellington Management in Boston. Andrew's interests include traveling, ice hockey, boxing, cycling, golf, snowboarding and skiing.
Andrew Chang is a 1st year MBA student at Wharton and a John A. Mayer fellow. Prior to Wharton, Andrew worked at TPG Credit, the distressed debt affiliate of TPG Capital, for three and a half years, where he was responsible for Industrials and Capital Structure Arbitrage investments. Previously, Andrew worked at Lehman Brothers in the Investment Banking Division in the Global Industrials Group. Andrew's interests include soccer, politics and classical music.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Distressed Investing
- Panel Manager, Distressed Private Equity
Prior to Wharton, Andrew was a Director in the New York office of Getzler Henrich & Associates, a boutique management consultancy focused on distressed middle-market businesses. During six years with the firm, he specialized in interim management engagements, including roles as interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Restructuring Officer across a variety of industries. Prior to Getzler Henrich, Andrew was a Technical Advisor to the Kenya Maize Development Program (an USAID project) while serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya; in this role, he worked extensively in agricultural value chains advising Kenyan banks on commodity financing and implementing a grain warehouse receipting system. Prior to his work in Kenya, Andrew worked as a consultant in the Chicago office of Development Specialists. Andrew received his BBA with Distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- International Private Equity
Anh Tran is a 2 nd year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Anh spent two years at DFJ VinaCapital (DFJV), a member of the DFJ Network located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam that invests primarily in the Asia Pacific region. At DFJV, Anh sourced, executed and managed early and growth stage investments in companies in the TMT (technology, media and telecom), consumer Internet and green technology space. Prior to DFJV, Anh spent four years as a management consultant with Lake Partners Strategy Consultants in Seattle, where he worked on strategic initiatives for clients in a variety of industries including private equity, investment management and technology. Anh spent his MBA summer with the Corporate Development team at Symantec in Mountain View, CA, where he analyzed M&A; targets. Anh is currently the president of the Wharton Boxing Club and enjoys traveling and sports.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Limited Partners Perspectives
Ashley Ciaburri is a first year MBA student at the Wharton School where she is pursuing a double major in finance and strategic management. At Wharton, Ashley was elected to the Wharton Graduate Association and is a member of the PEVC and the Wharton Women in Business clubs. Prior to Wharton, Ashley spent four years at Blackstone in the Park Hill Group, which provides fund placement services for alternative investment managers, including private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds and hedge funds. At Park Hill, Ashley advised private equity clients on all aspects of the fundraising process including competitive positioning and market assessment, marketing materials, and partnership terms and conditions. Prior to Park Hill, Ashley was an investment banking analyst at Citi. Ashley received a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Belinda Chen is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Belinda founded a startup in the home decoration space in China. Having successfully secured funding, Belinda led the company to achieve over ten million in annual sales and to reach profitability within eighteen months of founding. Before moving to China, Belinda worked for Jefferies in the Technology Media & Telecom investment banking group. Belinda graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing with her dog.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Logistics and Finance
Bill Fradin is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Bill worked at JLL Partners for two years, where he focused on investments in healthcare and financial institutions. Prior to JLL, Bill worked in the Multi-Industries Group at Merrill Lynch. Bill's interests include traveling, golf, and squash.
Job Titles:
- Emerging Markets - Coming of Age
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair, Panelists & Keynotes
Brian Peterson is a second year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance, Accounting and Strategic Management. This past summer, Brian was an intern at Sterling Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm, to which he will be returning after graduation. Prior to attending Wharton, Brian spent three years as an associate at Metalmark Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, where he focused on healthcare and energy investments. Previously, Brian worked for two years as an analyst at Lazard, where he specialized in Mergers & Acquisitions. Brian graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he received a B.B.A. degree with concentrations in Finance and Accounting.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
- Executive Director of Operations
Bryan Bloom is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Bryan spent four years as a public sector Management Consultant at IBM Global Business Services. He supported multiple clients in transforming their business operations, including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Department of Defense (DoD). While consulting for the DoD in Afghanistan, he created vocational training and job programs for ex-insurgents, developed and managed an incubator program to mentor budding entrepreneurs, performed due diligence on multiple portfolio companies, and raised funding for a $30 million multi-sector private equity fund.
Mr. Bloom graduated with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Colgate University. He enjoys playing hockey, football, and poker, as well as reading poetry.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Managing Partner
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Venture Capital
Carolyn Deng is a first-year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management. Prior to Wharton, Carolyn was an Investment Associate at Teachers' Private Capital, the $12 billion private investment department of the $117 billion Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). Carolyn was responsible for identifying and executing a variety of PE & VC direct and funds transactions globally, primarily in technology, healthcare, consumers, and energy sectors. Previously, she was an associate at Mercer's investment consulting practice and a management consultant at the financial services practice of Oliver Wyman. Carolyn received a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) from McGill University, and is a CFA charterholder.
Casey Simmons is a 1st year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Casey worked at the direct investing group of HarbourVest Partners for three years focused on growth equity and buyout transactions. Prior to HarbourVest, Casey worked in technology investment banking at Jefferies Broadview in addition to various operating roles at Lockheed Martin. His interests include tennis, squash, basketball, hockey, and poker.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Logistics and Finance
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Marketing and Communications
Chris Prochak is a first year MBA at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Chris worked at The Boeing Company where he served in project management and systems engineering roles for the 787 Dreamliner. Previously, he spent time at GE designing aircraft engines and supporting engine sales. Chris' interests include backpacking, snowboarding and brewing his own beer.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Value Creation
Daniel Hung is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Dan spent two years at Riverside Partners, a private equity firm that invests in technology and healthcare oriented companies. He was involved in evaluating and executing transactions and portfolio company support. Before joining Riverside, Dan worked for two years at BlackRock Kelso Capital, a provider of senior and junior financing solutions to middle-market companies across diverse industries. Dan graduated with a B.S., cum laude, in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Portfolio Manager, Caspian Capital Advisors
David Corleto is a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Caspian Capital Advisors. Prior to joining Caspian, he was at Goldman Sachs & Co. for six years where he held positions including high yield research analyst, distressed research analyst, distressed bond trader and distressed loan trader. Before Goldman, Mr. Corleto also worked as a high yield research analyst at BT Alex Brown and CSFB. Mr. Corleto holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Distressed Investing
- Panel Manager, Distressed Private Equity
David Gluckman is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, David spent two years at Ares Management, a private investment firm with approximately $54 billion under management focusing on corporate debt and private equity investments. Before joining Ares, David worked for two years at Houlihan Lokey in the Financial Restructuring Group where he constructed financial models and advised creditor groups and corporate clients. David received a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Co - CEO / the Carlyle Group
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, SWF
- Sovereign Wealth Funds
Deb Bardhan is a 1st year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Deb worked at Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) - the private equity affiliate of SIG, where he worked on successfully executing 5 deals across financial services, business services, and technology sectors. Prior to SGE, Deb worked in Goldman Sach's algorithmic trading group, where he was responsible for developing strategies for high volume and high frequency trades. Deb started his career as an entrepreneur, having founded a broadband, on-demand gaming company before joining GS. Deb's interests include traveling, poker, and meeting new people.
Job Titles:
- Venture Capital
- Venture Capital Panel Manager
Dhruv is a 1st Year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management. Prior to Wharton, Dhruv worked for four years at Inphi, a venture backed semiconductor's start-up in CA which he helped grow to profitability and $50M in revenue. He has received a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and Bachelor degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Dhruv currently consults part-time to local high-growth businesses in the Clean Technology sector. His interests include tennis, squash, trekking, scrabble and reading.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Founder and Managing Partner of Brigade Capital
- Founding / Managing Partner
Don Morgan is the Founder and Managing Partner of Brigade Capital Management, LLC, an asset management firm specializing in high yield and distressed debt investing. Prior to forming Brigade, Mr. Morgan was a Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Fixed Income at MacKay Shields LLC, overseeing the firm's High Yield Division from 2000 - 2006. During his leadership, Mr. Morgan grew the firm's high yield assets from $7B to $16B, also raising a $750MM long/short fund. MacKay's high yield products ranked in the top 5% of their peer groups. Mr. Morgan joined MacKay in 1997 and co-managed its high yield funds until 2000, when he became the Lead Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining MacKay Shields, Mr. Morgan was a High Yield Analyst at Fidelity Management and Research Company. Mr. Morgan sits on the board of NII Holdings, a mobile services provider in Latin America and South America. He is a graduate of New York University (BS Finance, magna cum laude) and is a CFA charterholder.
Job Titles:
- Emerging Markets Panel Manager
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations Associate
- Operations
Elizabeth Keller received her bachelor's degree from Wharton in December 2009 with concentrations in Finance and Accounting. This past summer, Elizabeth worked for Goldman Sachs' investment banking division in New York where she will return full time this summer. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Elizabeth interned for PricewaterhouseCoopers' financial services assurance practice in New York and General Motors' financial services division in Detroit. Elizabeth's interests include running, figure skating and singing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Sponsorship
- Sponsorship Director
Emily Poon is currently a first year student in the Wharton MBA Program. Prior to Wharton, she worked at Deloitte Consulting in their Strategy & Operations group in the New York. She worked on client projects in financial services, healthcare/life sciences, non-profit, and consumer retail industries. She has spent significant time in Greater China where she grew up before attending the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate studies.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Limited Partners Perspectives
Emma Wang is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Emma spent five years at L'Oreal as a regional senior manager in Asia Pacific. She built the momentum for the Kiehl's brand between 2009 and 2012, raising Kiehl's from a virtually unknown brand in the region to a phenomenal top 5 position in 2011 and 2012. Before this, Emma had catapulted Garnier to being one of the most popular brands in China.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Marketing Director
Before Wharton, Fraz was a Vice President at The GlenRock Group, a New York based growth investing firm. Prior to joining GlenRock, Fraz was a Senior Associate at Equifin Capital, a New York based private equity firm focused on investing in financial services. Before Equifin, Fraz was an investment banking analyst at Lazard Freres & Co. in the Financial Institutions Group and helped provide strategic and capital raising advisory services to global financial institutions. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2005 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Economics.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director and COO of Corporate Private Equity, the Blackstone Group
Garrett Moran is a Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Private Equity Group. He is a member of Blackstone's Executive Committee, as well as all investment committees for the Private Equity Group.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2005, Mr. Moran was a Senior Principal and the President of MMC Capital. Before joining MMC Capital in 2002, Mr. Moran had a long career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. His last position there was Vice Chairman and co-head of the Banking Group. He joined DLJ in 1982 as an investment banking associate and subsequently headed the firm's High Yield Bond Department and served as Chief Operating Officer of DLJ'S Taxable Fixed Income Division. He was Vice Chairman and co-head of the Banking Group of DLJ at the time of the firm's acquisition by Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation. Following that acquisition, Mr. Moran served CSFB as co-head of the investment banking integration effort and subsequently was the head of CSFB's Private Equity Division.
Mr. Moran is former Vice Chairman of the board of Middlebury College, and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brunswick School and a board member of the Posse Foundation. He received a BA from Middlebury College and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- LBOs - Strategies in Times of Turmoil
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Emerging Markets
- in Emerging Markets
Hsien Chang is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Hsien worked at the Carlyle Group where he focused on growth equity investments in Korea. Prior to Carlyle, Hsien worked at Lazard's corporate finance group in Asia where he engaged in restructuring and cross border M&A; transactions. Hsien enjoys alpine skiing, golf and travelling to exotic places.
Ishita Mohanty is a first year MBA student at Wharton, majoring in Strategic Management and Finance. Prior to Wharton, Ishita worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Technology, Media, Telecommunications Group at Barclays in London. At Barclays, she executed a full spectrum of transactions in the TV broadcasting, publishing, music, cable and mobile telecom space. Ishita graduated from the University of Warwick, UK with an M.Sc. in Economics (2008) and and the University of Delhi, India with a B.A. (Honours) in Economics (2006). In her spare time, Ishita enjoys travelling, reading, art, theatre and cinema.
Job Titles:
- International Private Equity
Job Titles:
- Media Sponsorship Director
Jade (Yue) Xiang is a first year MBA student at Wharton, majoring in Finance. Prior to Wharton, Jade spent one year at Primavera Capital Group, a China-based private equity firm that manages both RMB and USD dollar funds. She was involved in the transactions with various companies in healthcare and financial institution sectors. Before joining Primavera, Jade worked as a consultant for more than two years at Roland Berger, a management consulting firm. Jade graduated with a B.S. in Information Management and a B.A. in Economics at Peking University in China. She enjoys swimming and traveling. She loves cats and dogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Sponsorship
Jae Kim is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Jae worked at CVC for two years, where he worked on leverage buyouts and the portfolio management of companies in the industrials sector. Prior to CVC, Jae worked at Credit Suisse for four years in the Corporate and Investment Banking Division where he focused on advising a variety of global industrial clients on mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyout transactions and related financings. While at Credit Suisse, Jae was specifically focused in the paper, packaging, forest products and automotive industries.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Marketing and Communications
Jennifer is a first year MBA student at Wharton and a Joseph Wharton Scholar. Prior to Wharton, Jennifer worked at the Boston Consulting Group, where she focused on strategy and operations projects in financial services and consumer goods. Jennifer spent her last year establishing a multi-million dollar carbon offset fund, which was officially launched last November. In her spare time she is producing a documentary film and starting an online furniture rental service.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Panel Manager, Value Creation
John Harroff is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, John spent a couple years at Riverside Partners, a Boston-based private investment firm that invests in growing middle market healthcare and technology oriented companies and is currently investing a $561 million equity fund. He focused on due diligence on new investments and portfolio management. Before joining Riverside, John worked for two years at BMO Capital Markets in the Healthcare Group. John graduated with a B.A. in in Economics and International Relations at Brown University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Emerging Markets
Jose Escobedo is a first year MBA student at Wharton, majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and Finance. Prior to Wharton, Jose spent four years at Nexus Group, the Private Equity unit of Interbank Group, a Peruvian business conglomerate with revenues exceeding $2.5bn. At Nexus Group, he was involved in the acquisition of and value creation initiatives in portfolio companies in the retail, consumer finance, manufacturing and entertainment industries in Peru and Colombia. Jose holds a BS in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico in Lima - Peru, where he graduated with honors. He enjoys teaching, cooking and playing soccer.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Marketing and Communications
Jose Prieto is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Jose worked at the Investment Banking Division of Banco Popular Dominicano, Dominican Republic's largest private bank. As a Business Manager, Jose advised leading Dominican corporations in complex M&A; deals and executed over $100 MM of syndicated debt facilities. Previously, he was a Senior Consultant at Deloitte's Financial Advisory Services unit. Jose's interests include traveling, soccer, squash and ultimate frisbee.
Julian is a first year MBA student at Wharton, where he is majoring in entrepreneurship and finance. Before he joined Wharton, Julian worked in Mergers & Acquisitions advisory for HSBC and Morgan Stanley, in both London and Dubai, focusing mainly on transactions in the telecoms, media & technology sectors. Julian graduated with a MA in Literae Humaniores from Oxford University, and he enjoys rugby, swimming, and history.
Job Titles:
- Operations, Information Technology
Khushboo was a consultant in Delhi, India at Accenture, in its Strategy Consulting practice. She worked on several projects for growth strategy, market entry, customer segmentation, and PE due diligence. She has worked across several sectors such as telecom, consumer products and auto. She holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, India and a business diploma from XLRI, India.
Le-Quyen Le is a second year MBA student at Wharton. Over the summer, she interned at the Asian Development Bank in the private sector operations department, assisting in the due diligence and drafting investment recommendations of infrastructure/energy projects. Prior to Wharton, Quyen worked at CIM Group, a private equity firm with approximately $9.5 billion AUM focusing on real estate and infrastructure opportunities. She was involved in the acquisition, asset management and reporting processes, covering assets in the firm's various real estate and infrastructure funds. Before joining CIM, Quyen worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging Group. Quyen graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. She enjoys camping, playing badminton and solving Sudoku puzzles.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Investments for the Future Panel Manager
- Sustainable Alternative Investments
Marina Nekrasova is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Marina worked in the principal investing group at Goldman Sachs in London and New York, where she structured and executed bespoke funding and investing transactions across a wide range of financial products. Marina graduated from Duke University and enjoys wine, travel and kite-surfing.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Middle Market
Mark Turner is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Mark spent over three years with the Behavioral Health Group ("BHG"), a private equity sponsored outpatient substance abuse treatment services provider. While at BHG, Mark oversaw Corporate Development, including identifying, assessing, and negotiating acquisition opportunities and opening new facilities.
Prior to joining BHG, Mark worked in the private equity group of Highland Capital Management, LP, an alternative asset manager with $20B AUM, and spent over two years with Booz and Company working with energy companies and foreign governments. Mark graduated with a BBA in Finance and a BS in Management Science (Industrial Engineering) from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He enjoys computers, live music, soccer, and squash.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair, Panelists & Keynotes
Matthew Dunnigan is a 2 nd year MBA student at the Wharton School majoring in Finance and Strategic Management. This past summer, Matthew was an intern at a hedge fund focused on long/short opportunistic credit investments. Prior to Wharton, Matthew was an Investment Associate at H.I.G. Capital, a global private investment firm with over $10 billion of capital under management. While at H.I.G., Matthew focused on evaluating and executing special situation middle market investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to joining H.I.G., Matthew worked as an investment banking analyst in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications group at Bear, Stearns & Co. in New York. Matthew received a B.S. in Business Administration from Bucknell University in 2006 with a concentration in Finance and minor in Economics.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Secondaries
Michael Graham is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Michael spent three years in Atlanta, GA with Arcapita Inc., a Bahraini based alternative investments manager with over $8.0 billion AUM focusing on U.S. middle market private equity. At Arcapita Michael was responsible for origination, diligence, and execution of new deals as well as all aspects of portfolio management for eight portfolio companies. Prior to joining Arcapita, Michael worked for a year at PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) leading the company through a $230 million financing and two years at Merrill Lynch in the Global Healthcare Group. Michael graduated with a B.A. in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, from Vanderbilt University. In his free time he enjoys golf, tennis, rugby, Americana music, scuba diving, and sailing.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Leveraged Buyouts
Michael Staub is a first year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Strategic Management. Prior to Wharton, Michael spent two years at Fortress Investment Group, a New York based private equity firm, where he focused on investing across a variety of sectors including leisure/lifestyle, financial services and infrastructure. Previously, Michael spent two years at Falconhead Capital, which is a New York based private equity firm that invests exclusively in the consumer, leisure/lifestyle and media industries. Michael started his career as an investment banking analyst at Merrill Lynch & Co., completing mergers, acquisitions, and debt & equity financings for clients in the power & utilities space. Michael graduated summa cum laude from Ithaca College in 2006 with a B.S. in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Accounting.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Europe
- Panel Manager, Investing in Europe
Mrinalini Chandra is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Before coming to Wharton, she worked as the VP of Finance at a solar energy firm, PLG Power, in Mumbai where she raised debt and equity funds for solar power plants. Prior to that, Mrinalini was a Senior Analyst at Merrill Lynch's Technology Investment Banking group in their London and Palo Alto offices where she executed several cross border M&A; transactions. Mrinalini graduated summa cum laude from University of Southern California with a B.Sc. in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Sponsorship Director
Neha Mishra is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Neha worked at NBK Capital, a Kuwait-based boutique investment bank for two years. She was extensively involved in all aspects of originating and executing M&A; transactions, including transaction evaluation, due diligence, financial modeling, marketing material preparation, valuation, negotiations and closing. Before joining NBK Capital, Neha worked for two years at Ernst & Young in their Transaction Advisory Services Group. Prior to Ernst & Young, Neha worked for a year at Accenture in their Management Consulting practice. Neha graduated with a B.E. in Electronics and Communication from Gujarat University and an MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University in India, and is a CFA charterholder. She enjoys traveling, painting, dancing and photography.
Nikhil Gadia is a 1st year MBA student at Wharton. Before coming to Wharton, Nikhil worked for Watershed Asset Management, a San Francisco based hedge fund, where he invested in various fixed income and equity securities, private placements, direct investments, and other opportunities that were inefficiently held or financed, undergoing change, or in which the investment risk was misunderstood and therefore mispriced. Prior to joining Watershed, he was an analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at UBS Investment Bank in New York. Nikhil's extracurricular interests include investing, English Premier League soccer, cash no-limit poker and debating global politics and economics. Nikhil is currently a fund fellow for the Wharton Investment Management Fund, a $500k small-cap value investment fund.
Job Titles:
- Middle Market
- Middle Market Panel Manager
Nikhil Kirtane is a first year MBA student at Wharton, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated with Honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to Wharton, Nikhil was an investment analyst for two years at Frontier Ridge Capital, a distressed hedge fund started by former members of Atticus Capital and MSD Capital. He previously spent two years at H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity firm with over $7.5 billion of equity capital under management, where he focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, and debt investments in distressed companies. He was also a member of the Investment Banking / Leveraged Finance group at Deutsche Bank for two years, where he focused on M&A;, high yield and bankruptcy financings. Nikhil's interests include technology, skiing, discussing US politics, and playing the violin.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations Director
- Operations
Philip McLeod is a 1st year MBA student at Wharton. He is a Joseph Wharton Scholar and was recently named to the Director's List. Prior to Wharton, Philip worked at Wachovia Capital Partners, a $1.8B private equity fund, for three years focusing on middle market buyout and growth equity transactions. Prior to WCP, Philip worked in Wachovia's Leveraged Finance group structuring bank and bond financings in the consumer retail, media, and healthcare industries. Philip enjoys competitive go-kart racing, Formula 1, golf, skiing, soccer, and practicing martial arts (Kung Fu and Muay Thai).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Sponsorship
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Sponsorship
- Sponsorships
Rahul Sanghavi is a 2nd year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Rahul spent four years as a management consultant with Monitor Group, working on growth strategy and PE advisory projects for clients across the Asia-Pacific region. Over the past summer, he worked with Baring PE Asia, a regional growth equity fund with $2.5bn in AUM, assisting their India investment team with identifying potential investments in the power sector. In his spare time, Rahul enjoys traveling, squash, photography, sketching and partaking in social impact initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Marketing, Communications, Media Relations
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Venture Capital
Samantha Gordon is a first year MBA student at The Wharton School concentrating in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management. Prior to Wharton, Samantha spent three years at Zynga, a San Francisco-based social gaming company, where she held a number of positions in the Recruiting and Business Development divisions. Most recently, Samantha was an International Relationship Manager on the Consumer Products and Revenue team, where she was responsible for the marketing and distribution of Zynga's prepaid Game Cards in 45 international markets. Samantha graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with an A.B. in Art History.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Sponsorship Director
Samiksha Gupta is a first year MBA student at The Wharton School. Prior to Wharton, Samiksha worked at J.P. Morgan in the Syndicated & Leveraged Finance group in Houston, Texas. During her four years at J.P. Morgan, Samiksha provided investment banking advisory services to large-cap oil & gas clients and mid-cap clients across diversified industries. Samiksha graduated with a Masters in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin. Samiksha is a Certified Public Accountant. She enjoys cooking, traveling, dancing and yoga in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Leveraged Buyouts
Saurabh Bhansali is a first year MBA student at Wharton in the Health Care Management program. Prior to Wharton, Saurabh spent about two years in New York City at Pfizer, a global pharmaceutical company, in the business development group focusing on licensing and M&A; opportunities. Before joining Pfizer, Saurabh worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the Financial Sponsors group where he covered middle market and large cap private equity firms. Saurabh graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University. He enjoys playing flag football, actively following New York sport teams and improving his photography skills.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Panel Manager, Europe
- Panel Manager, Investing in Europe
Serdar is a first year MBA student in Wharton. Previously, he worked in Mediterra Capital Partners, a middle market private equity fund in Turkey with 135 million AUM. He took various responsibilities in deal sourcing and deal execution steps as well as some sectoral coverage. Prior to Mediterra, Serdar spent six years in strategy consulting namely in Booz&Co; and the Boston Consulting Group. During his tenure in consulting he was involved in commercial due diligences for strategic buyers financial sponsors. Serdar has B.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering from Bilkent Univesity, Ankara. He is a member of Wharton Boxing Club and Wharton Rowing Club.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Operations Director
- Operations
Sergey Popov is a first year MBA student majoring in Finance. Prior to Wharton he worked in Bain and Company in Russia and Ukraine, concentrating on turnarounds in the financial services industry. Sergey is a chartered Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and is a level III CFA candidate. At Wharton Sergey also works as a Research Assistant for the Finance department, helping in research on financial modeling.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Emerging Markets
Shawn is a first-year MBA student at Wharton majoring in Finance and Strategic Management. Prior to Wharton, Shawn worked with EDB Investments, a corporate investment firm headquartered in Singapore with a global reach, where he invested in Internet and digital media companies and helped them expand their operations in Asia. He was previously based in Shanghai with First Alverstone Partners, a pan-Asian private equity firm where he actively managed the firm's portfolio companies in China and Southeast Asia. Shawn graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and with Highest Distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a double major in Economics. He enjoys jazz music, playing tennis, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Sponsorships
Job Titles:
- Venture Capital
- Venture Capital Panel Manager
Simon is currently a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Simon worked at The Carlyle Group, where he focused on growth-stage investments and small leveraged buyouts in the technology, education and business services sectors. Previously, Simon was an Analyst in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Merrill Lynch and a Systems Analyst in the Technology Integration group at Deloitte Consulting. In addition, Simon enjoys international travel, golf, tennis and skiing.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / CCMP Capital
Job Titles:
- Member of the Operations and Marketing Directors Team
- Co - Chair, Marketing and Operations
- Marketing and Communications
Tram Nguyen is a second year MBA Student at The Wharton School, focusing on Finance and Management. In addition to being on the leadership team of the Private Equity and Venture Capital conference, Tram has been on the board of with Wharton Ventures, a student led venture capital group investing in early stage technology and healthcare companies. Prior to business school, Tram worked as a manager at Google where she launched several products for their online advertising division. Tram also spent several years as a Product Manager with Microsoft, where she helped to build their enterprise channel ecosystem and managed the partner launch for Windows Vista. Tram graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in business.
Job Titles:
- Panel Manager, Limited Partners Perspectives
Vivek Jain is a first year MBA student at Wharton. Prior to Wharton, Vivek spent three years at H.I.G. Capital, a middle market private equity firm with approximately $10 billion under management. Before joining H.I.G., Vivek was an analyst in the investment banking division of Citigroup. He holds a B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Cornell University.
Yelena Ofengeym is a first year MBA student at Wharton, majoring in finance and healthcare management. She is a chartered financial analyst and had previously worked in asset management, equity research and financial services. Prior to Wharton, Yelena spent two years at Stifel Nicolaus, a full-service retail, institutional brokerage and investment banking firm. She covered specialty pharmaceuticals as an associate analyst on Stifel's equity research healthcare team. Before joining Stifel, Yelena worked at JP Morgan Asset Management, where she was involved in portfolio management and research for JPM growth strategy mutual funds totaling over $5bn AUM. Yelena graduated from Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Finance. She enjoys playing volleyball, chess and travelling.
Yulia is a second year MBA student at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, with a triple major in finance, entrepreneurship and strategic management. In addition to receiving First Year Honors, she is a teaching assistant for Private Equity in Emerging Markets and Venture Capital classes. Yulia is a chartered accountant with 6 years of experience in financial services sector and a CFA Level II candidate. Prior to Wharton, she was a Manager at PwC in charge of complex assurance engagements of major European banks, investment firms, hedge funds, real estate holdings and other financial institutions. After winning Bank of America Merrill Lynch MBA Diversity Fellowship, Yulia spent her summer at M&A; group in New York. Yulia has a passion for travel, photography and dancing.